Improved apparatus for the discharge of bilge-water and for the ventilation of vessels



UNITED' STATES PATENT OFFICEO i JOHN BRIGGS, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR THE DISCHARGEOF BILGE-WATER AND FOR THE VENTILATION OFVVESSElLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 40,394. dated October 27, 1863; antedated l October 20, 1863.

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, JOHN BRrGGs, of Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful device to create a vacuum by the motion of a vessel, for the purpose of carrying off bilgewater, exhaust-steam, smoke, foul air, and

other fluids; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and exact desciiption of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this speciiication, in Which- Figure l represents a vertical longitudinal section of the lower part of the stern of a vessel, with my invention applied. Fig. 2 is plan or top. view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both views.

The subject of my present invention is an apparatus which may consist of a cylinder or a number of pipes projecting backward through the stern of a vessel beneath the water, and open at their rear ends, so that the forward motion of the vessel will tend to create apartial vacuum within the said cylinder or pipes. The front end of the said cylinder or pipes may communicate through suitable condueting-pipes with the bottom of the hold, for the removal of bilge-water, or with the exhaust-port of a steam-engine, to relieve the back of the piston from pressure, or with the furnace-fines or any part of the interior of the ship, to create a draft.

In order that others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains may be enabled to fully understand and use the same, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

Amay represent the bottom, and B the stern, of a steam or other vessel.

C is a shell, of cylindrical, conical, or other suitable form, projecting through the stern B, and open at its rear end.

D D are pipes extending from the frontof the shell C to the bottom of the hold, at each side of the vessel, and open at their forward ends. rlhe said pipes are guarded by valves E and cocks F.

G is a pipe communicating from the rear part of the shell O to the exhaust-port Il of a steamengine, I.

J is a cock, through which a flow of air may be admitted within the shell when the vacuum is not required.

l is a reservoir in the bottom of the shell C, intended to receive water of condensation, from whence it may be drawn oft' through a pipe, L, to supply ythe boiler.

M represents a water-pipe communicating With the exhaust-steam pipe G, instead of delivering directly into the shell C. By using the invention in this form the steam will be condensed before reaching the shell C, and the water entering the latter'will be collected in the reservoir K, to be returned to the boiler, asbefore stated.

D/D representpipes, which may extend directly through the stern B, and thus take the place of the shell C and pipes D D. The pipes D'l are guarded by valves E and cocks F in manner similar to the pipes D.

I have here represented the connection of the apparatus with pipes for removing bilgewater, and with the exhaust-port of a steamengiue; but I do not limit myself to these particular uses. It may be employed in con neetion with the flue to carry oft' smoke and assist the draft of the furnace, or for ventilation, or various other purposes.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: As the vessel progresses through the Water in the direction indicated by the arrow, a partial vacuum is formed within the casing O or pipes D D, and if the purpose be the expulsion of bilge-water or foul air, or the acceleration of the furnace-draft, the pressure of the atmosphere forces the uid into lthe pipes, from whence it is discharged beneath the water. In the case of a steam-engine, the same cause removes the pressure from the back of the piston, and thus increases the power of the steam. The same effect may be produced by a hollow keel open at the rear end, or a pipe, cylinder, or chamber arranged in any suitable Way. The pipe M is only used for the production of feed-water, and may communicate either with the external water or with that within the hold.

Way of carrying it into effect, What l `claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

An apparatus, substantially as described,`

to be applied to the stern of a vessel for the removal of bilgewater, steam, smoke, foul air, or other fluids. v

' JOHN BRlGGS. Witnesses JAMES H. GRIDLEY,

CHARLES SMITIL 

